Bagel lovers choose from 15 flavorful varieties at local shop
9:22 a.m. Monday, August 14, 2006
Jim Burgardt is the owner of Bagel Express. He got some ribbing when the shop first opened.
“It was an up and coming trend back then,” he said. “All my guy friends, none of 'em ever came in at first. They couldn't understand what I was doing. It was an unusual adventure for me to do. First everyone thought I'd be failing pretty fast on this concept."
But 12 years after the doors first opened, Bagel Express is still going. Jim says people are becoming more familiar with bagels.
“It's been advertised very well on movies and TV and commercials,” he said. “But I don't know that the majority of the public are a big fan of bagels yet. But it's slowly growing as time goes on."
Additional information
Bagel Express is located at 29th and Fairlawn in Topeka. They're open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information you can call them at (785) 273-7070.
The bagel has Jewish origins.
“It's a Jewish product that has come overseas,” he said. “Over in the east coast it developed over there in the Jewish community. And over years it has grown from there."
You can watch bagels being made at Bagel Express. Flour is mixed with corn syrup, water and a few other ingredients. Then flavorings are added. Today, Jim is mixing up blueberry and tri-berry bagels.
The dough is sliced into long strips and placed into the bagel machine. The machine cuts the dough into smaller pieces, then out pops the bagel in its classic shape.
The bagels are chilled overnight in a large refrigerator. In the morning, the bagels are placed in a humidity box where they are allowed to rise. After an hour they are taken to the oven and baked.
Around Town with Dana Davis
If you have a special event happening in your community, or if you want your town featured on Good Morning Kansas. Please e-mail your ideas to dana.davis@49abcnews.com or call Dana at (785) 215-8500.Jim says the process of making bagels has changed in some ways.
“A traditional bagel is done in boiled water and then baked off, where in the Midwest where most companies are steaming their products and then baking it off,” he said.
Bagel Express has 15 different flavors to choose from.
“It's endless on what you can make with a bagel,” he said.
Cliff Gruver has been stopping by for about two years, and he has his favorites.
"Well, probably my favorite is cinnamon raisin with cream cheese. My second one is my sesame seed with peanut butter,” Gruver said.
Bagel Express rolls out 2,000 to 3,000 bagels a day - that's a lot of bagels.
So with all these bagels around, has Jim ever missed a day?
"I haven't missed a day without one,” he said. “Every morning, still have my bagel."
Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)